Figure 3 Multiple Sequence Alignment of DR4 Alleles
HLA-DRB1∗0401 and DRB1∗0408 only differ in position 71 (site A). In contrast to protecting DR4 alleles, both sequences encode for a glycine in position 86 (site B). The residue is part of the C-terminal end of the epitope-binding alpha helix of the MHCII complex. The substitution of a large with a small hydrophobic amino acid at this position potentially increases the immunogenicity of IFN-β.